THE 


DUTY  AND.'  ADVANTAGE 
STUDYING  THE  PROPHETIC  SCRIPTURES. 


The  persuasion  that  the  language  and  symbols  of  the  pro- 
phetic Scriptures  are  so  peculiar  and  mysterious  as  to  render 
it  impossible  to  determine  their  meaning,  is  so  general  and 
absolute,  that  with  few  exceptions,  those  in  the  sacred  office 
do  not  regard  themselves  as  under  obligation  to  study  and 
endeavor  to  understand  them,  but  deem  it  injudicious  even, 
and  likely  to  lead  them  to  mistake  their  own  fancies  for  the 
mind  of  the  Spirit,  and  betray  them  into  fanaticism.  The 
interest  in  them  accordingly,  which  as  divine  revelations  they 
are  suited  to  excite,  has  almost  expired  in  the  church.  They 
are  not  made  the  subject  of  instruction  from  the  pulpit,  nor  of 
private  investigation,  much  more  than  they  would  be  if 
they  were  not  regarded  as  the  oracles  of  God.  This  con- 
viction, however,  is  undoubtedly  unauthorized,  and  were 
the  imputation  which  it  involves,  realized,  would  be  abandoned 
by  those  who  indulge  it.  For  how  injurious  to  God  is  the 
assumption  on  which  it  proceeds,  that  he  has  made  a  series  of 
communications  to  us  constituting  a  large  portion  of  his  word, 
which  are  of  such  a  nature,  that  it  is  the  part  of  good  sense 
and  discretion  to  neglect  and  shun  them;  as  though  we  under- 
stood what  becomes  us  better  than  he,  and  had  risen  to  such 
a  knowledge  of  ourselves  and  him,  and  such  a  refinement  of 
taste,  as  to  discern  that  he  has  misjudged  our  faculties  and  the 
means  that  are  adapted  to  subserve  our  improvement  /  Such 
an  assumption  is  as  unjustifiable  in  respect  to  the  prophecies, 
as  it  were  in  regard  to  any  other  portion  of  the  Scriptures. 
For  they  are  addressed  to  us  by  God  as  our  moral  governor, 
as  much  as  his  laws  are.    They  are  a  part  of  the  series  of 


communications  from  which  we  are  to  form  our  views  of  his 
perfections,  rights,  designs,  and  will,  as  much  as  his  com- 
mands, his  threatenings,  and  his  promises.  They  are  a  part 
of  the  great  system  of  means  which  he  employs  to  engage 
our  faith,  to  support  us  under  trials,  and  to  guide  us  in  duty  ; 
and  have  accordingly  as  high  a  title  to  our  study  as  the  law 
or  the  gospel,  and  can  no  more  justifiably  be  debarred  from 
the  influence  they  are  adapted  to  exert. 

The  neglect  of  the  prophecies,  under  the  persuasion  that 
they  are  unintelligible,  and  the  study  of  them  unwise  and  dan- 
gerous, is  inconsistent  also  with  the  awe,  the  faith,  and  the 
interest  in  the  great  designs  of  God,  which  his  people  ordina- 
rily feel,  as  well  as  with  his  rights.    Reverence  for  his  word, 
confidence  in  his  wisdom,  a  profound  interest  in  the  measures 
of  his  government,  and  a  fervent  desire  to  know  what  his  pur- 
poses are  in  respect  to  the  f  edemption  of  the  world,  are  natu- 
ral to  his  children ;  not  unbelief  and  indifference.  Notwith- 
standing they  make  no  effort  to  interpret  the  prophecies,  they 
after  all,  probably  with  scarce  an  exception,  have  a  lurking 
feeling  that  they  must  be  intelligible,  and  that  when  under- 
stood, they  will  be  found  to  be  as  worthy  as  the  other  Scrip- 
tures of  the  wisdom  that  inspired  them.    And  were  they 
placed  in  conditions  in  which  they  felt  nothing  of  the  preju- 
dice which  they  have  inherited  from  their  predecessors,  and 
acted  out  their  genuine  sentiments,  they  would  display  an  in- 
terest in  them  and  make  exertions  to  ascertain  their  meaning, 
that  would  be  in  harmony  with  their  principles  and  professions 
as  his  people.    Let  us  suppose  for  example,  that  the  attempts 
of  Diocletian  and  Galerius  in  the  beginning  of  the  fourth  cen- 
tury to  destroy  all  the  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  had  seemed  to 
^e  successful  in  respect  to  the  Apocalypse,  but  that  after 
having  been  lost  to  the  church  for  fifteen  centuries,  it  had 
lately  been  found,  and  with  such  evidences  of  its  genuineness 
as  toxcause  it  to  be  universally  acknowledged  as  the  revela- 
tion that  was  made  to  John  ;  with  what  profound  reverence 
would  it,  be  received  by  the  church!     What  lofty  interest 
would  it  excite  !  With  what  eager  curiosity  would  it  be  read 
and  studied !    What  a  stir  would  it  occasion  in  the  theological 
and  literary  world  !    Instead  of  listlessness  and  neglect,  it 
would  be  procured  and  read,  not  only  by  every  minister  of 


the  gospel,  by  the  learned  and  cultivated  of  ail  professions 
and  classes,  and  by  every  member  of  the  church,  but  "by  all 
of  every  rank  who  have  any  acquaintance  with  letters  ;  and  a 
knowledge  of  its  signs,  the  principle  on  which  they  are  em- 
ployed, and  their  meaning,  be  deemed  essential  to  one's  re- 
spectability. It  would  be  ignorance  and  indifference  that 
would  then  be  discreditable ;  not  curiosity  and  knowledge. 
The  interest,  however,  the  zeal,  the  faith,  the  industry,  the 
resolution  and  perseverance,  that  would  then  be  displayed, 
would  only  be  such  as  are  natural  to  the  people  of  God,  and 
as  his  word  is  accustomed  to  excite.  The  alienation  from  the 
prophecies,  accordingly,  and  indifference  to  their  import^ 
which  are  now  so  common,  are  not  the  offspring  of  their  genu- 
ine and  characteristic  affections  towards  him,  but  are  dis- 
sonant and  unnatural,  and  ought  to  be  discarded, 
r  The  response  to  this,  which  will  naturally  rise  in  most  minds, 
will  probably  be:  You  have  indeed  judged  aright  of  our  feelings 
in  respect  to  the  prophetic  Scriptures.  We  are  far  from  being 
indifferent  in  regard  to  them.  It  would  afford  us  a  high  satis- 
faction to  know  what  it  is  that  they  reveal.  We  are  in  doubt 
and  perplexity  in  respect  to  the  designs  of  God,  and  the  issue 
of  the  great  movements  that  are  occupying  the  political  and 
religious  world ;  and  need  a  clearer  light  to  guide  us.  But  how 
are  we  to  ascertain  what  the  meaning  of  the  prophecies  is  ? 
A  long  line  of  great  and  good  men  who  have  enjoyed  all  the 
advantages  of  leisure,  and  all  the  aids  of  learning,  have  de- 
voted their  lives  to  their  interpretation  ;  but  instead  of  having 
determined  with  any  degree  of  certainty  their  import,  their 
labors  have  only  served  to  show  that  they  are  not  under- 
stood, and  to  beget  the  impression  that  any  attempts  by  us  to 
unfold  them  must  necessarily  be  wholly  unavailing.  Show 
us  that  the  obstacles  to  their  explication  are  not  absolutely  in- 
surmountable :  prove  that  the  ill-success  of  others  has  not 
arisen  from  any  intrinsic  difficulty  of  the  subject :  and  we 
shall  be  ready  to  make  exertions  to  learn  what  it  is  that  they 
teach,  proportional  to  their  claims  to  our  regard  as  the  oracles 
of  God,  and  to  the  interest  of  the  great  themes  of  which  they 
treat 

What,  however,  is  deemed  requisite  to  constitute  such  proof? 
To  demonstrate  that  the  ill-success  of  commentators  hereto- 


35389 


4 


fore,  has  not  arisen  from  an  inexplicable  intricacy  of  the  pro- 
phecies, can  anything  more  be  necessary  than  to  show,  that 
they  have  universally  proceeded  on  false  hypotheses,  and 
instead  of  interpreting  them;  have  only  employed  themselves 
in  guessing  at  meanings,  or  inventing  unauthorized  construc- 
tions ?  In  proof  of  the  possibility  of  an  easy  and  satisfactory 
interpretation,  can  anything  more  be  demanded  or  desired,  than 
that  it  should  be  shown  that  the  symbolic  prophecies  themselvesr 
which  present  the  chief  difficulty,  contain  a  revelation  of  the 
principle  on  which  their  signs  are  used,  and  on  such  a  scale  as 
"to  render  all  doubt  in  respect  to  the  laws  by  which  they  are 
to  be  interpreted,  unreasonable  and  impossible  ?  Or  can  any- 
thing more  be  required  in  respect  to  the  unsymbolic  pro- 
phecies than  such  an  analysis  of  their  figures,  which  are  the 
principal  source  of  perplexity,  and  determination  of  their  laws7 
as  to  render  their  explication  as  easy  and  demonstrative  as 
any  other  part  of  the  Sacred  Word  ?  Nothing  more  can  be 
asked  or  required,  all  will  probably  respond  ;  and  if  such  aids 
can  be  furnished,  we  shall  feel  it  to  be  an  imperative  duty  to 
avail  ourselves  of  them,  and  make  every  effort  in  our  power 
to  learn  what  the  great  things  are  that  are  contained  in  the 
prophetic  Scriptures. 

It  is  to  furnish  those  aids,  and  excite  the  church  to  the  study^ 
that  the  Theological  and  Literary  Journal  is  established. 
We  propose  to  show  that  those  universally,  who  have  hereto- 
fore written  on  the  prophecies,  have  proceeded  on  false  views 
of  the  nature  of  symbols  and  figures,  and  necessarily  erred  in 
proportion  as  they  adhered  to  their  principles.  We  undertake 
to  demonstrate  that  the  symbolic  prophecies  contain  a  revela- 
tion of  the  principles  on  which  their  signs  are  employed,, 
which  furnishes  the  most  ample  means  for  their  satisfactory 
interpretation,  and  sets  aside  a  large  part  of  the  constructions 
that  have  commonly  been  put  on  them.  We  propose  to  present 
an  analysis  of  the  several  figures  that  are  employed  by  the  pro- 
phets, and  statement  and  proof  of  their  laws,  that  will  render 
their  explanation  equally  easy  and  certain,  and  rescue  them 
from  the  misrepresentations  to  which  they  are  commonly  sub- 
jected. We  design  also,  in  a  series  of  articles,  to  apply  the 
laws  of  symbols  and  figures  thus  ascertained,  to  the  prophecies 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  and  point  out  the  results  to 


5 


which  they  lead  ;  and  thus  put  it  in  the  power  of  all  who  will 
give  the  subject  such  a  measure  of  attention  as  is  requisite  to 
master  any  large  question,  to  make  themselves  familiar  with 
It,  and  possess  themselves  of  the  disclosures  which  God  has 
made  through  the  prophets  of  his  great  designs.  This  we 
have  in  a  degree  accomplished  in  the  numbers  that  are  already 
published,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  statement  of  their 
contents. 

No.  L  The  Introductory  article  of  the  first  number,  published 
in  July,  is  employed  in  stating  the  claims  of  the  prophetic  Scrip- 
tures to  investigation;  and  contrasting  the  imperfect  knowledge, 
neglect,  and  indifference  of  those  in  the  sacred  office  in  regard  to 
them,  with  the  curiosity,  enterprise,  laboriousness, and  success  of 
the  students  of  other  branches  of  learning.    The  second  article 
treats  of  the  false  methods  of  interpreting  the  Apocalypse  which 
have  heretofore  been  pursued,  and  shows  that  a  long  series  of 
writers  who  are  regarded  as  of  authority,  have  founded  their 
explications  on  assumptions  that  have  no  ground  in  the  pro- 
pheey  itself,  and  necessarily  lead  to  a  misrepresentation  of  its 
meaning.    Among  those  assumptions,  one  of  the  principal  is 
that  of  Vitringa,  who  held  that  the  expositor  should,  anterior 
to  interpretation,  form  an  hypothesis  in  respect  to  the  great 
theme  of  the  Apocalypse,  and  make  it  his  guide  in  the  solution 
of  the  symbols:;  which  is  not  to  deduee  the  things  foreshown 
from  the  media  through  which  they  are  revealed,  but  to  ascribe 
to  tbem  a  signification  drawn  from  some  other  source.  The 
theory  of  Mr.  Mede,  and  Mr.  Whiston,  that  the  order  of  the 
Visions  should  be  taken  as  "  the  grand  rule  of  interpretation,'* 
has  been  made  the  basis  of  many  explications  also,  and  is 
•equally  mistaken  ;  as  it  makes  the  meaning  of  the  symbols  to 
depend  not  on  their  nature,  but  on  an  assumption  in  respect  to 
the  order  in  whieh  that  which  they  foreshow  is  to  take  place. 
Those  who  have  followed  that  method^  have  accordingly  em- 
ployed themselves  in  a  large  degree,  not  in  interpreting  the 
symbols,  but  in  ascribing  to  them,  without  any  regard  to  their 
nature  and  laws,  such  a  meaning  as  was  required  by  their 
wiews  of  the  period  in  whieh  they  were  to  be  accomplished. 
Mr.  Daubuz  advanced  a  different  set  of  theories.    He  founded 
many  of  his  interpretations  on  the  hypothesis  that  symbols  are 
employed  on  the  same  principles  as  the  hieroglyphs  of  the 


6 


Egyptians ;  which  is  not  only  to  misrepresent  symbols,  but 
hieroglyphs  also,  as  they,  instead  of  being  representatives  of 
persons  and  things,  are,  like  letters  and  words,  mere  signs  of 
the  voice.  In  another  class  of  his  explications  he  proceeded  on 
the  assumption  that  the  visions  of  the  prophets  are  to  be  in- 
terpreted by  the  same  rules  as  were  employed  by  the  ancient 
soothsayers  in  the  exposition  of  dreams ;  which  were  wholly 
fanciful  and  arbitrary,  and  lead  necessarily  to  a  misrepresen- 
tation of  the  prophecy.  The  theories  of  Grotiusr  Sir  Isaac 
Newton,  Eichhorn,  Dean  Woodhouse,  Mr.  Frere,  Mr.  Cuning- 
hame,  and  several  others,  are  in  like  manner  shown  to  be 
erroneous,  and  the  fact  thus  established,  which  it  is  the  object 
of  the  article  to  demonstrate,  that  the  ill-success  of  those  writers 
was  not  owing  to  any  inherent  difficulty  in  the  Apocalypse  it- 
self, but  to  the  false  methods  which  they  pursued ;  and  that  if  its 
meaning  is  to  be  ascertained,  it  must  be  by  a  wholly  different 
method  of  interpretation.  The  third  article,,  on  Professor 
Stuart's  commentary  on  the  Apocalypse,,  is  employed  in  refut- 
ing the  hypotheses  which  he  advances  respecting  the  nature 
of  the  prophecy,  the  principles  on  which  it  is  to  be  explained,, 
and  its  meaning.  The  first  of  those  hypotheses  is,  that  it  is. 
an  epic  poem.  The  second,  that  the  symbols  were  invented 
by  the  apostle,  in  place  of  being  exhibited  to  him  in  vision*. 
The  third,  that  they  are  mere  drapery,  instead  of  being  repre* 
sentative  of  agents.  The  fourth,  that  all  the  parts  of  the  pro- 
phecy have  a  threefold,  or  some  other  artificial  division-  The 
fifth,  that  its  special  design  was  to  encourage  and  console 
Christians  of  the  age  in  which  it  was  written.  The  sixth,  that 
its  symbols  are  to  be  interpreted  by  the  mere  laws  of  philology.. 
The  seventh,  that  an  acquaintance  with  the  apocryphal  works 
of  the  second  and  third  centuries  is  necessary,  in  order  to  a 
knowledge  of  its  meaning.  These  assumptions  are  shown  to< 
have  been  drawn  from  late  rationalistic  German  writers,  and  to 
be  erroneous,  and  the  expositions  which  he  founds  on  them  con- 
futed. The  fourth  article, on  Dr.  Chalmers's  Scripture  Readings,, 
presents  a  view  of  his  genius  and  character.  The  fifth  is  a, 
review  of  Dr.  Dickinson's  Religion  Teaching  by  Example. 
In  the  sixth,  Literary  and  Critical  Notices  are  given  of  several 
recent  publications. 

No.  IL  In  the  first  article  of  the  second  number,  issued  m 


October,  on  the  Laws  of  Symbolic  Representation,  the  great 
fact  is  stated  and  demonstrated,  which  is  th.e  ground  of  our 
endeavors  at  a  new  and  satisfactory  interpretation,  that  the 
principles  on  which  the  symbols  are  employed  are  revealed  in 
the  prophecies  themselves,  in  the  interpretations  that  are  given 
of  them  by  Christ,  the  angels,  and  the  prophets.    2.  Their 
several  laws  are  stated  and  shown  to  be  involved  m  those 
interpretations.    3.  The  principle  is  explained  of  the  excep- 
tions that  occur  to  them,  and  shown  in  like  manner  to  be 
revealed    4.  A  catalogue,  arranged  in  alphabetic  order,  is 
given  of  the  whole  series  of  the  symbols  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament,  415  in  number.    5.  A  catalogue  is  given  of  the 
inspired  interpretations,  148  in  number,  in  the  order  in  which 
they  occur.    6.  It  is  shown  that  these  laws  are  applicable  m 
like  manner  to  the  whole  of  the  uninterpreted  symbols.  First, 
because  there  are  no  explications  given  that  involve  a  different 
set  of  laws.    Secondly,  because  there  are  no  uninterpreted 
symbols  that  can  be  shown  to  be  employed  on  any  other 
principles.    Thirdly,  because  they  are  the  only  laws  by  which 
a  large  share  of  the  uninterpreted  symbols  can  be  explained, 
consistently  with  the  truth  of  the  prophecies.  Fourthly, 
because  all  exceptions  that  occur,  take  place  on  the  same 
ground  as  the  exception,  the  principle  of  which  is  revealed. 
Each  of  these  considerations  is  verified  by  a  large  array  of 

^n^another  article  on  Mr.  Fleming's  Rise  and  Fall  of 
Papacy,  his  chief  views  are  shown  to  be  erroneous,  and  the 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held  as  an  expositor  unmerited  :— 1.  He 
was  not  aware  that  the  laws  of  interpretation  are  revealed  in 
the  prophecies  themselves.  2.  He  had  no  settled  view  of  the 
principles  on  which  symbols  are  used.  3.  Most  of  his  con- 
structions  are  precisely  what  they  should  be,  if  the  laws  of 
symbols  were  the  converse  of  what  they  are.  4.  His  prognos- 
tications in  respect  to  France  and  the  Papacy  are  not  only 
founded  on  false  principles,  but  do  not  correspond  to  the 
events  that  are  alleged  as  their  fulfilment. 

The  other  articles  of  the  number  are  devoted  to  other  sub- 
jects The  chief  is  a  review  of  the  works  of  Strauss  and 
Neander  on  the  life  of  Christ,  in  which,  1st.  Dr.  Strauss's  theory 
that  the  gospels  are  myths  is  stated,  and  the  grounds  he  alleges 


8 


in  its  support  shown  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  principles  by 
which  all  other  histories  are  judged,  arbitrary,  and  false.  2d 

The  views  are  exhibited  on  which  Neander  proceeds :  First 

that  the  gospels  are  not  inspired.    Next,  that  their  authors  fell 
into  mistakes  in  many  of  their  narratives.    And  thirdly,  that 
many  of  the  events  which  they  represent  as  miraculous,  were 
not  of  that  nature.    The  principles,  accordingly,  it  is  shown, 
on  which  he  proceeds,  are  essentially  the  same  as  those  of 
Strauss  and  other  naturalists  ;  that  the  constructions  he  places 
on  several  of  the  evangelical  narratives  are  unauthorized  and 
absurd  ;  that  his  attempts  to  set  aside  the  miraculousness  of  the 
events  which  they  relate,  in  place  of  relieving  them  from  dif- 
ficulty, involve  them  in  inextricable  embarrassment ;  and  that 
the  assumptions  on  which  he  proceeds  in  those  instances  lead 
necessarily,  if  admitted,  to  the  rejection  of  all  the  other  mira- 
cles recorded  in  the  sacred  volume  ;  and  are,  when  divested 
of  the  fair  terms  in  which  they  are  disguised,  nothing  less 
than  the  principles  of  infidelity.    The  third  article,  on  Mor- 
rell's  History  of  the  Speculative  Philosophy  of  Europe  in  the 
Nineteenth  Century,  presents,  first,  a  statement  of  Kant's  view 
of  the  understanding  and  reason,  and  proofs  that  it  is  a  mere 
theory,  unsupported  by  any  evidence ;  that  it  is  inconsistent 
with  our  consciousness,  and  demonstratively  false ;  and  that  it 
denies  the  possibility  of  our  having  any  knowledge  of  the 
being  of  God,  or  any  other  existence  besides  ourselves,  and 
was  devised  for  the  purpose  of  overturning  the  foundation  of 
revealed  and  natural  religion,  and  giving  atheism  the  pretence 
of  a  logical  demonstration.    Next,  the  pantheistic  systems  of 
Fichte,  Schelling,  and  Hegel,  are  stated,  and  the  ground 
pointed  out  on  which  they  and  other  modern  rationalists 
reject  the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures.    And  thirdly,  Cole- 
ridge's theory  of  the  understanding  and  reason  is  shown  to 
have  been  adopted  from  Kant  without  alteration,  and  to  be 
obnoxious  to  the  same  philosophical  and  theological  objections. 
In  the  closing  article  critical  notices  are  given  of  several  works 
lately  published. 

The  number  issued  in  January  contains  an  analysis  of  the 
different  species  of  figures  employed  by  the  prophets,  and 
statement  of  their  laws,  in  which  it  is  shown  : — First,  that  each 
kind  has  its  own  peculiar  nature,  and  is  to  be  interpreted  by 


9 


its  own  laws.  Next, that  their  explication  is  as  easy  and  certain 
as  the  determination  of  problems  in  any  other  branch  of 
knowledge.  Thirdly,  that  one  of  the  most  significant  and 
beautiful  figures  of  the  prophets  has  been  universally  mis- 
understood, and  confounded  with  others  of  a  different  nature. 
Fourthly,  exemplifications  are  given  of  the  relation  of  their 
laws  to  the  old  methods  of  interpretation,  and  the  mode  in 
which  they  set  aside  a  great  number  of  constructions  that 
have  been  falsely  put  on  passages  of  the  Old  Testament. 
And  finally,  it  is  indicated,  and  will  in  subsequent  articles  be 
shown,  that  they  settle  the  meaning  beyond  doubt  of  a  num- 
ber of  the  most  important  predictions  that  have  heretofore 
been  in  debate  ;  such  as  whether  the  Israelites  are  to  return 
to  their  own  land,  and  be  reorganized  as  a  nation  ;  whether  the 
holy  dead  are  to  be  raised  anterior  to  the  millennium  ;  and 
whether  the  nations  are  to  survive  Christ's  advent,  be  converted, 
and  live  under  his  reign. 

The  second  article  contains  an  analysis  of  the  principles  on 
which  Mr.  Faber  conducts  his  interpretations,  in  which  it  is 
shown  that  his  views  of  the  nature  both  of  figures  and  symbols 
are  essentially  erroneous ;  that  a  large  part  of  his  construc- 
tions are  at  the  utmost  distance  from  truth,  and  that  he  has 
contributed  much  by  his  mistaken  methods  to  generate  the 
aversion  and  disgust  with  which  the  subject  has  of  late  years 
been  regarded. 

In  a  subsequent  article  on  the  relation  of  the  present  dispen- 
sation to  the  future  reign  of  Christ,  the  common  theories 
respecting  the  reason  that  the  redemption  of  the  race  is  at 
present  restricted  within  such  narrow  limits  are  confuted  ;  the 
assumption  shown  to  be  unauthorized  on  which  the  Protestant 
churches  are  proceeding,  that  the  nations  are  to  be  Christian- 
ized and  sanctified  by  the  means  that  are  now  employed  for 
that  purpose  without  any  extraordinary  divine  interposition  ; 
and  proofs  given  that  the  design  of  the  present  dispensation 
is,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  personal  interposition  and  reign 
of  Christ,  when  all  nations  and  families  are  for  a  long  series 
of  ages  to  be  sanctified. 

In  a  notice  in  another  article  of  the  Rev.  E.  Bickersteth's 
Warning  to  the  Churches  in  respect  to  the  judgments  that  are 
at  hand,  the  assumption  on  which  he  founds  a  portion  of  his 


10 


interpretations  is  shown  to  be  unauthorized  and  erroneous. 
The  views  are  noticed  also  which  he  presents  of  the  moral 
and  religious  condition  of  Great  Britain.  The  other  articles 
of  the  January  number  are  aTeview  of  Dr.  Spring's  work  on 
the  Power  of  the  Pulpit,  which  treats  of  the  chief  causes  that 
impair  the  influence  of  the  ministry ;  a  notice  of  the  Memoir 
of  Mrs.  "Van  Lennep  ;  an  account  of  ancient  cities  lately  dis- 
covered in  Lycia ;  a  description  of  a  portion  of  Australia  that 
has  recently  been  explored ;  and  critical  notices  of  several 
late  publications. 

The  April  number  is  to  contain  a  continuation  of  the  analy- 
sis of  Mr.  Faber's  system  of  interpretation ;  an  application  of 
the  laws  of  figures  and  symbols  to  some  commentary  on  one 
of  the  Old  Testament  prophets,  and  exemplification  of  the 
results  to  which  they  lead  in  the  refutation  of  mistaken  hypo- 
theses and  constructions,  and  determination  of  the  true  mean- 
ing ;  and  an  enumeration  and  classification  of  the  figures  of  a 
part  of  Isaiah. 

Each  of  the  subsequent  numbers  will  contain  a  discussion 
of  one  or  more  questions  that  respect  the  prophecies.  The 
themes  that  require  to  be  treated  are  numerous  and  of  great 
interest.  Among  them  are,  1st,  the  theories  of  writers  on 
the  Apocalypse  who  have  not  yet  been  noticed.  It  is  designed 
to  continue  an  analysis  of  them,  till  a  full  conviction  is  wrought 
that  the  views  on  which  they  proceed  are  mistaken.  2.  A 
similar  trial  by  the  laws  of  figures  and  symbols  of  the  popular 
explications  of  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Testament.  This  is 
a  large  and  most  important  field.  A  just  interpretation  of 
the  ancient  prophets  will  set  aside  many  crude  and  mistaken 
views  that  prevail  in  respect  to  the  present  dispensation,  and 
that  which  is  hereafter  to  be  exercised.  3.  A  fuller  exempli- 
fication of  the  laws  of  figures  and  symbols.  4.  An  enumera- 
tion and  classification  of  the  figures  of  the  ancient  prophets. 
This  wide  and  attractive  ground,  which  is  most  favorable  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  understanding  and  refinement  of  the 
taste,  and  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  interpreter,  is 
almost  wholly  unexplored.  *'  6.  A  fuller  exemplification  of  the 
analogies  on  which  symbols  are  founded.  This  subject, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  most  important  to  the 
expositor,  is  almost  totally  neglected.     The  question  has 


11 


scarcely  been  asked,  and  never  satisfactorily  answered,  by 
those  who  have  treated  of  the  symbolic  prophecies,  why  it  is 
that  a  star  is  employed  by  Christ  as  a  representative  of 
a  teacher  of  the  gospel,  and  a  candlestick  of  a  church  ;  why 
lamps  in  the  temple  are  used  as  symbols  of  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
waters,  of  nations  and  multitudes ;  or  a  rain  and  hail  storm  of 
a  slaughtering  and  devastating  army.    An  understanding  of 
the  principle,  however,  on  which  they  are  employed,  and  a 
facility  in  applying  it,  are  indispensable  in  order  to  determine 
from  the  symbols  what  the  agents  are  which  they  are  used  to 
represent.    7.  A  definition  and  exemplification  of  the  office  of 
figures  and  types,  in  distinction  from  symbols.    8.  Explications 
of  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament.  9.  Especially 
of  those  which  respect  the  powers  denoted  by  the  wild  beast. 
10.  Of  those  which  show  who  the  witnesses  are ;  what  their 
office  is ;  what  their  slaughter  and  resurrection  denote,  and 
whether  they  are  yet  future.    11.  Of  those  which  show  who 
they  are  who  are  symbolized  by  great  Babylon.    12.  A  deter- 
mination of  the  question,  Who  the  agents  are  who  are  the 
subjects  of  the  fifth  vial  ?    13.  Who  are  to  be  the  subjects  of 
the  sixth  vial  ?    14.  What  the  fall  of  great  Babylon  de- 
notes ?    15.  What  predictions  of  Daniel  and  John  have  met 
their  fulfilment?    16.  What  the  great  events  are  that  are  to 
precede  the  millennium?    17.  Whether  the  nations  are  to  be 
converted  by  the  mere  instruments  which  are  now  employed 
by  the  church,  or  by  extraordinary  and  miraculous  means  ? 
18.  Whether  the  Israelites  are  to  be  restored  to  their  ancient 
land,  re-established  as  a  separate  nation,  and  subsist  there  for 
ever?    19.  Whether  Christ's  second  advent  is  to  take  place 
anterior  to  the  millennium  ?    20.  Whether  the  sanctified  who 
shall  have  died  are  to  be  raised  before  the  millennium  ?  21. 
Whether  Christ  is  to  reign  on  earth  during  that  period,  and 
what  the  offices  are  which  the  risen  and  glorified  saints  are 
to  fill  in  his  kingdom  ?    22.  The  nature  of  the  millennial  dis- 
pensation.   23.  The  nature  of  the  sway  that  is  to  be  exercised 
over  the  earth  after  that  period.    24.  Whether  mankind  are  for 
ever  to  subsist  here  and  multiply,  as  they  would  had  they  not 
fallen  ?  25.  The  views  with  which  missions  and  other  endeavors 
to  Christianize  the  nations  should  be  conducted.   26.  The  duty 
of  those  in  the  sacred  office  to  study  the  prophetic  Scrip- 
tures, and  make  them  the  subject  of  instruction  to  their  people* 


12 

27.  Their  adaptation  to  exalt  the  views  of  God,  enlarge  the 
knowledge  of  his  government,  and  nourish  the  faith,  awe,  love, 
and  zeal  of  his  people.  28.  Their  relation  to  the  duties  of 
the  church  at  the  present  period.  29.  The  grandeur  of  God's 
designs.    30.  The  sublime  prospects  of  his  people. 

It  will  perhaps  be  imagined  that  even  on  the  supposition 
that  the  principles  of  interpretation  are  revealed  in  the  pro- 
phecies themselves,  and  are  what  we  allege,  that  still  they  are 
extremely  intricate ;  that  a  long  course  of  cultivation  is  re- 
quisite to  a  full  understanding  and  application  of  them  ;  and 
that  they  must  be  left  therefore  to  persons  who  are  either 
expressly  devoted  to  their  investigation,  or  at  least  have 
leisure  and  large  libraries. 

But  the  obligation  to  study  them,  we  answer,  does  not 
depend  on  the  question  whether  they  can  be  comprehended 
at  a  glance.  We  are  not  freed  from  the  duty,  because  it 
requires  time,  vigorous  efforts,  and  much  cultivation.  Do 
Christ's  ministers  make  it  a  condition  of  their  undertaking  any 
other  work  which  he  requires  of  them,  that  it  shall  not  inter- 
rupt their  ease,  or  withdraw  them  from  secular  occupations ; 
that  it  shall  not  put  them  under  a  necessity  of  unfolding, 
refining,  and  exalting  the  powers  with  which  he  has  endowed 
them  ;  that  it  shall  not  compel  them  to  learn  anything  more 
of  him,  his  government,  themselves,  or  their  fellow  men,  than 
they  already  know  ?  There  is  no  proviso  of  that  nature 
inserted  in  his  commandments.  So  far  from  consulting  his 
people's  ease,  or  relieving  them  from  difficult  duties,  he 
requires  them  to  love  him  with  all  the  heart,  and  mind,  and 
strength ;  assigns  them  labors  in  which  they  are  to  display 
that  love,  that  involve  the  highest  exertion  of  all  their 
energies ;  and  conducts  his  providence  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  constrain  them  to  show  whether  they  will  fulfil  such  duties. 
It  is  not  in  conditions  of  ease  and  exemption  from  temptation, 
but  in  periods  of  great  difficulty,  in  circumstances  that  demand 
the  highest  degrees  of  faith,  love,  and  devotedness,  that  the  great 
question  is  decided  whether  they  are  truly  his  children,  and 
proofs  given  by  them  of  their  allegiance,  that  are  made  the 
ground  of  his  treating  them  as  his  friends.  It  was  when 
Abraham  was  required  to  sacrifice  his  son,  that  the  question 
respecting  his  fidelity  was  settled.  It  was  when  Job  was 
deprived  of  his  property,  bereft  of  his  children,  tortured  with 


13 


disease,  and  overwhelmed  with  reproaches  and  dishonor,  that 
the  genuineness  of  his  love  and  submission  was  demonstrated, 
and  God  was  shown  to  be  justified  in  pronouncing  him  up- 
right. And  he  calls  his  children  generally  to  very  similar 
trials;  and  one  to  which  he  now  subjects  them  is  this,  in 
respect  to  the  revelation  he  has  made  of  the  issue  of  the  pre- 
sent dispensation  and  the  reign  that  is  to  follow.  They  are 
put  to  the  question,  whether  they  have  such  a  regard  for  his 
authority  ;  such  an  interest  in  his  purposes  respecting  our 
world  ;  such  a  desire  to  fulfil  the  duties  which  he  requires  of 
them,  that  they  will  make  the  exertions  that  are  necessary  to 
learn  what  it  is  that  he  has  foreshown  in  his  word  ;  and  their 
conduct  in  respect  to  it  is  as  expressive  of  their  hearts,  as 
their  course  under  any  other  trial.  The  acquisition  of  that 
knowledge  is  attended  by  no  difficulty  but  such  as  his  wisdom 
appoints.  It  involves  no  greater  surrender  of  ease,  or  severer 
exertion  of  the  intellect,  than  are  requisite  to  exhibit  the  love 
which  he  demands.  And  those  who  neglect  it  can  no  more 
expect  his  approval,  than  though  they,  for  a  similar  reason, 
refused  any  other  duty  which  he  enjoins. 

The  subject,  in  fact,  however,  is  not  of  any  peculiar  diffi- 
culty. It  is  not  to  be  compared  in  intricacy  with  the  higher 
branches  of  mathematics,  metaphysics,  or  theology.  It  is  far 
more  within  the  grasp  of  educated  persons  generally  than 
many  questions  which  they  are  accustomed  to  master.  Were 
the  whole  body  of  those  in  the  ministry,  for  example,  to  study 
this  and  some  other  subject  that  requires  attention  and  disci- 
pline, such  as  the  laws  of  perception,  volition,  or  conscience, 
nine  hundred  and  fifty  would  rise  to  an  easy  comprehension 
of  this,  and  find  it  a  source  of  exhilaration  and  delight,  where 
fifty  would  gain  a  tolerable  knowledge  of  Locke  on  the  Under- 
standing, Edwards  on  the  W  ill,  or  Butler  on  Human  Nature.  It 
does  not  require,  by  any  means,  as  large  a  share  of  attention,  as 
multitudes  appropriate  to  the  study  of  the  ancient  languages. 
There  are  thousands  of  the  young,  who  might  obtain  a  good 
acquaintance  with  it  in  a  small  part  of  the  time  which  they 
devote  to  the  cultivation  of  music.  Surely  the  disciples  of 
Jesus,  who  expect  from  his  hands  soon  a  crown  of  eternal  life, 
will  not  think  a  knowledge  of  the  great  disclosures  he  has 
made  respecting  the  kingdom  in  which  they  are  for  ever  to 
serve  him,  unworthy  of  such  an  effort.    Those  in  the  sacred 


14 


office,  to  whom  he  has  expressly  assigned  the  task  of  inter- 
preting his  word,  and  proclaiming  his  coming  reign,  will  not 
deem  such  a  measure  of  study  too  great  to  learn  what  that 
reign  is  to  be  ;  what  world  is  to  be  its  scene ;  and  who  are  to 
share  in  its  dignities  and  bliss.  Instead,  their  love,  their 
interest  in  his  great  designs,  their  desire  of  a  fuller  knowledge 
of  that  immortal  existence  to  which  he  is  to  exalt  them,  and 
their  wish  to  fulfil  to  his  acceptance  the  work  with  which  he 
has  intrusted  them,  and  lead  their  flocks  to  his  kingdom,  will 
prompt  them  to  make  the  experiment ;  and  when  they  have  once 
entered  on  the  subject,  become  acquainted  with  its  elements, 
and  caught  a  glimpse  of  its  vastness  and  significance,  they 
will  no  longer  need  an  impulse  from  others  to  excite  them  to 
its  study,  but  will  be  led  on  by  its  novelty,  its  beauty,  and  its 
grandeur,  and  regard  it  as  one  of  the  most  important  in  the 
whole  circle  of  theology,  shedding  light  on  every  other,  exalt- 
ing their  apprehensions  of  the  divine  government,  furnishing 
them  with  authentic  and  delightful  views  of  the  life  on  which 
they  are  soon  to  enter,  supplying  them  with  new  means  of 
interesting  and  instructing  their  people,  and  inspiring  them 
with  higher  thoughts  of  the  ends  of  their  office,  and  greater 
zeal  and  resolution  to  discharge  its  duties.  Nor  will  they  be 
content  that  the  knowledge  of  it  should  be  confined  to  them- 
selves, but  will  desire  that  it  should  be  shared  by  their  people, 
and  especially  the  young. 

Within  a  brief  period  indeed,  we  doubt  not,  that  instead  of 
being  regarded  with  prejudice  and  distaste,  it  will  attract  the 
attention,  and  engage  the  interest  of  the  religious  and  culti- 
vated generally.  An  acquaintance  with  it  will  be  found  to  be 
of  easy  acquisition.  The  knowledge  it  involves  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  analogy  and  the  laws  of  figures,  will  cause  it  to  be 
introduced  into  the  higher  schools  and  seminaries  ;  while  to 
parents  who  wish  to  give  their  children  a  refined  and  religious 
education,  it  will  become  a  favorite  subject  of  instruction, 
from  its  eminent  adaptation  to  excite  curiosity,  unfold  the  un- 
derstanding, give  truth  and  elegance  to  the  taste,  exalt  the 
fancy,  and  above  all,  enlarge  the  thoughts  of  God,  and  invest 
the  coming  life  with  interest  and  beauty.  A  family  of  sons 
and  daughters  who  should  gain  a  knowledge  of  the  different 
species  of  figures  and  symbols,  and  the  criteria  by  which  they 
are  distinguished  from  one  another,  familiarize  themselves 


15 


with  the  application  of  their  laws,  and  learn  how  to  test  in- 
terpretations by  them,  and  confute  such  as  are  false,  would 
obtain  in  the  process  a  higher  and  more  beneficial  evolution 
of  their  faculties  than  from  any  other  study.  It  involves  as 
useful  a  discipline  of  the  intellect  as  geometry  or  algebra ;  as 
direct  a  culture  of  the  taste  and  fancy,  as  rhetoric  or  poetry  ; 
unfolds  a  boundless  field  for  historical  investigation,  and  pre- 
sents a  motive  for  the  study  of  safe,  interesting,  and  useful 
books,  in  place  of  such  as  are  pernicious  ;  and,  which  is  of  far 
higher  consideration,  exhibits  the  designs  of  God  in  a  clear- 
ness and  greatness  that  are  not  seen  anywhere  else  ;  unveils 
the  work  of  Christ  in  a  grandeur  of  which  without  it  we 
should  have  had  no  conception  ;  and  discloses  events  of  which 
the  world  is  soon  to  become  the  scene,  that  are  adapted  in  the 
utmost  degree  to  impress  the  imagination,  to  fill  the  heart  with 
awe,  to  beget  a  sense  of  God's  dominion,  and  to  inspire  a  de- 
sire for  that  immortal  life  of  youth,  beauty,  innocence,  and 
bliss,  to  which  the  race  is  soon  to  be  exalted.  Such  parts  of 
the  subject  will  be  treated  in  a  few  numbers,  and  such  exem- 
plifications given,  as  will  enable  persons  of  ordinary  talents, 
and  especially  such  as  have  a  quick  perception  of  analogies, 
without  any  greater  attention  than  is  required  to  gain  a  know- 
ledge of  any  important  branch  of  education,  to  familiarize 
themselves  with  its  principles  and  interpret  by  them  with  the 
ease  and  exactness  with  which  they  apply  the  rules  of  arith- 
metic, the  axioms  and  definitions  of  geometry,  or  the  laws  of 
grammar. 


The  Theological  and  Literary  Journal  is  issued  quar- 
terly, in  July,  October,  January,  and  ApriL 
It  is  edited  by  David  N.  Lord. 

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remittances  may  be  addressed  at  140  Nassau  street. 

The  price  is  Three  Dollars  a  year,  payable  in  advance. 

The  numbers  of  a  year  will  make  a  volume  of  about  700  pages. 

The  first  No.  was  issued  in  July,  1848.  The  No.  for  April, 
1849,  will  complete  the  first  volume. 

New  York,  January,  1849. 

Persons  who  have  received  the  first  number,  and  do  not  design  to  become 
subscribers,  are  desired  to  return  it  to  the  Publisher,  and  indicate  on  the  enve- 
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